title: Alcohol challenge responses predict future alcohol use disorder symptoms: a 6-year prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propensity for alcohol misuse may be linked to an individuals' response to alcohol. This study examined the role of alcohol response phenotypes to future drinking problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred four young heavy social drinkers participated in a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled laboratory alcohol challenge study with 6-year follow-up. Participants were examined for subjective responses before and after receiving an intoxicating dose of alcohol (.8 g/kg) or a placebo beverage, given in random order. Follow-up was conducted in 5 waves over 6 years after the sessions to assess drinking behaviors and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms. Retention was high with 98% (509 of 520) of possible follow-ups completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater sensitivity to alcohol, in terms of stimulation and rewarding effects (like, want more) and lower sensitivity to alcohol sedation predicted greater number of AUD symptoms through 6 years of follow-up. Cluster analyses revealed that for half the sample, increasing levels of stimulation and liking were predictors of more AUD symptoms with the other half divided between those showing like and want more and want more alone as significant predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings extend previous findings and offer new empirical insights into the propensity for excessive drinking and alcohol problems. Heightened alcohol stimulation and reward sensitivity robustly predicted more alcohol use disorder symptoms over time associated with greater binge-drinking frequency. These drinking problems were maintained and progressed as these participants were entering their third decade of life, a developmental interval when continued alcohol misuse becomes more deviant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience (ACK, PJM), University of Chicago, Chicago Illinois. Electronic address: aking@bsd.uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience (ACK, PJM), University of Chicago, Chicago Illinois.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.affiliation: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (DH); Department of Psychiatry (DH), Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hasin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DC), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Dingcai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012201:Reward; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol response; binge drinking; differentiator model; reward sensitivity; stimulation; subjective effects; trajectory